"The lightning flashed; the thunder rolled, and the rain felled heavily down. The Carpenter had completed building the house. As I Looked around she had slipped away with Him.'
Anna M. "Nana" Cook took her leave to take her new home. She was born February 19, 1931, in Laurel, Mississippi. She was the second child of seven children born to the late Hayward Knight, Sr, and Willie M. Duckworth Knight. She is preceded in death by her parents, two children, Robert B. Cook, Jr., and Kecia Cook Carter; and five siblings, Curtis Knight, Eartis Knight, Hayward Knight, Jr., Audrey Conerly, and Sarah Ford.
On December 4, 1951, she married Luke Barnett and to this union two children were born. After the passing of Luke , she met and married the love of her life, Robert B. Cook, Sr. From this union two children were born. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother , great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.
Her formal education began at Smith County Agricultural School where she graduated valedictorian. Upon graduation she attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi. She also attended and acquired her degree from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. She was later inducted into the Jackson State University National Alumni Association.
She began her teaching career in a two-room schoolhouse. She was the first Black teacher to integrate Gulfport School System. She retired after thirty -six years of teaching.
As a member of Morning Star Baptist Church for sixty-nine years, she was involved in numerous church activities which included leadership positions in Sunday School, Maton Auxiliary, Inspirational Choir, Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry, Food Bank Ministry, Board of Deaconess Wives, Fellowship Hall Committee, Pastor's Aid Committee and Religious Drama Committee.
She was a member and president of the National Council of Negro Women. She also enjoyed traveling. In her many years she was blessed to host numerous civil rights leaders in her home.
Anna enjoyed attending or watching the Jackson State University football team and the New Orleans Saints. Her favorite past time was to be surrounded by her family and friends and cooking for them.
She leaves to cherish all the wonderful memories of her life; her husband, Robert B. Cook, Sr., son, Luke (Jennifer) Barnett; adopted sons, Tremayne Barnett and Ashton Barnett; daughter, Cheryl (Terence) Wells; sister, Grace (Theodore) Martin; grandchildren, Richard and Jamee Barnett; Jared, Amber, and Julien Cook, Natasha Testo, Tyra Carter; great-grandchildren; great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; god-children, Keith Dunlap and Karen Jackson.